Lobster
Every year, we get together with friends and celebrate Chinese New Year. Since this is the year of the horse, we decided on a theme — wine vintages from past years of the horse. I was told that I was born in the year of the water horse but I could not find a wine from that year.
Jelly Fish and Cold Cuts
We chose the Oriental Gardens Restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown for the dinner. The service was excellent and so was the food. Our waiter was the best that I have ever had in a Chinese restaurant and could have qualified as a sommelier at a top restaurant.
The Wines
2002 Year of the Water Horses
Chablis Domaine Billaud- Simone Cru “Les Preuses” 2002 100% Chardonnay. The exposure is south; southeast and the vines are 65 years old. Harvesting is by hand. Vinification is in stainless steel. Aging is for 8 to 10 years depending on the vintage. This is an elegant complex wine, with aromas of honey, toast and lemon with good minerality, a long finish and a very pleasing aftertaste. It was a great way to start the celebration.
1990 Year of the Metal Horse
Regaleali Rosso Sicilia IGT 1990 made from 100% Nero d’Avola. Fermentation is in stainless steel for an average of 10 days. The wine is aged in stainless steel 50% and 50% in oak casks of 30HL and 60HL for 6 months. This was a real surprise. The wine was 24 years old and is the type of wine that one would think is to be drunk young. It was in vey good condition with no signs of oxidation and enough fruit to make it very enjoyable.
1966 Year of the Fire Horse
Chateau Montrose 1966 – Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 30% and Cabernet Franc 5%. Back then, the average age of the vines was 29 years. The wine was aged for 22 to 24 months in barrel. Robert Parker in his book Bordeaux (1985) writes that the anticipated maturity of the wine is between 1986 and 2010. The wine is classic St-Estephe and was drinking like a younger wine.
Chianti Classico Fattoria Di Santa Christina 1966 Fattoria dei Marchesi Lodovico and Piero Antinori. I am not surprised anymore when I drink older Chianti Classico. This wine was made with white grapes, Trebbiano and Malvasia, and they most likely used the governo method (drying 10% of the grapes). This was the wine of the evening for me.
1978 Year of the Earth Horse
Barolo “Vigneto Rocchette” 1978 Giovanni Accomasso & Figli. I do not believe that I have had any wine from this producer. The location of the winery is La Morra but as far as I know it is not imported into the USA.
Barbaresco Bricco Asili 1978 100% Nebbiolo Ceretto. We had this wine at another New Year celebration a few days later and it was showing so well I just had to include it.
Barolo 1978 Cogno- Marcarini 100% Nebbiolo– This wine was made when Elvio Cogno was the winemaker. Cogno produced some of the best classic traditional wines that it has been my pleasure to drink. This one was no exception and it was the wine of the evening for a number of people. 1978 was a very good vintage for Barolo. Wasserman gave Cogno’s Barolo 4 stars, his highest rating.
Charles:
An enviable line-up of wines Two ’78s are particularly noteworthy, but isn’t that a Ceretto label on that ’78 Bricco Asili? ‘Splain please, Lucy.
Tom
Ciao Tom Yes and I am very happy that you noticed!!!!
More info, please: was it good? 1978 was a hard, hard year, and some of the wines are just coming around now, Was this one ready?
Ciao Tom- The wine was more than wonderful, one of the best Barbaresco’s that I have ever had, so I had to include it. We also had the 78 Prunotto. I changed the picture but not the copy.
Ah! That clears things up — and makes your evening all the more enviable. Complimenti!
Ciao Tom Thanks!